sweeping gun control measures in many years. the national rifle association launched a preemptive strike against it. it involved the president's family, in part. but this time they may have some formidable opposition to their position. it's where we begin our reporting tonight with our chief white house correspondent, chuck todd. chuck, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. this was no ordinary policy rollout. we have seen the president do this on a number of issues. this one was filled with an emotional plea, if you will. in fact, the president spent more time trying to drum up support for a campaign using emotion than he did talking about his actual plans themselves. an emotional president obama unveiled his plan in front of an audience that included parents of newtown victims. >> she dreamed of becoming a painter. chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings. and i hung it in my private study. and every time i look at that painting, i think about how when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we mu